Bored with Sex? Dr. Wendy Walsh Gives Tips to Spice It Up

You may already know clinical psychologist, relationship expert and best-selling author Dr. Wendy Walsh from TV shows such as The Doctors, The View, The Today show and Good Morning America. Now she brings her perspective of love, relationships and sex to EmpowHER.

I sat down with Dr. Walsh last week to discuss new international market research on what men and women really want from their intimate relationships.

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Dr. Walsh’s trademark no-holds-barred style of conversation became apparent when we discussed monogamy, how Americans’ views toward sex and relationships are changing, and just how our sexual habits stack up against those in four other nations — France, the Netherlands, Germany and Australia.

We have seemingly come such a long way, when it comes to sexual expression. Now it’s water cooler fodder and discussed openly on talk radio with perfect strangers. Sex is used to sell us everything from cheeseburgers to cars, hair dye to hyper-sexual cologne. You'd think in 21st century sex is no longer closeted, but you'd be wrong.

If we are indeed in a kind of new sexual revolution, the truth is, we might be dragging along 19th century social norms. It may be easy to talk dirty, but having an honest conversation about our deepest human desire still seems to be taboo.

According to data from men and women ages 25-55 already in a relationship, gathered in August 2013 by International Communications Research and supported by the sexual aid company, We-Vibe, there's a lot of interest in spicing things up in the bedroom, but the biggest barrier to a red-hot love life is the inability to start a conversation.

Three out of five Americans say they want their sex life to be more playful and fun, yet only 30 percent feel they can discuss this with their partners.

Walsh said that having a conversation may be difficult because most Americans feel shame about their sexual health.

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